The Issue of Managing the Refugee Crisis

With some 2.5 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, the migrant crisis is reaching untenable proportions. Having spent over $8 billion of its own resources even as aid pours in from abroad, Turkey is facing major strains in managing the exodus of refugees from Syria’s tragic war.

Turkish Heritage Organization (THO) will ask experts to discuss the sources and prospects of the refugee challenge including measures which could be put in place by Turkey and the international community to achieve pragmatic solutions and avoid dire consequences.

Dr. Fuat Oktayis the President of the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). The agency currently runs a network of 25 state-of-the-art refugee camps where over 250.000 people enjoy regular access to housing, healthcare, education and psychological support.

Dr. Nora Fisher Onaris a visiting scholar at the George Washington University, Institute for Middle East Studies. Dr. Onar is also a fellow at the Transatlantic Academy in Washington, DC and research associate of the Centre for International Studies at the University of Oxford.

Dr. James Gelvinis Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History at the University of California, Los Angeles. A specialist in the modern social and cultural history of the Arab East, he is author of four books.

The Turkish Heritage Organization (THO) is a non-profit organization founded to promote discussion and dialogue around issues of importance in the U.S.-Turkey bilateral relationship as well as Turkey’s role in the international community. Learn more at:http://turkheritage.org/ or on Twitter @TurkHeritage.